sit up, buttercup

brette is working on sitting up on her own.

i only have her practice on me or on a bed.

i don't want her hitting her head on our wood floors,

but i do think sitting on something more solid would be helpful.

 

she's not quite there,

but getting close.

 

here's a play-by-play of one of our practice sessions.

 

 



wreath wednesday: birthday style

i know everyone is getting into

the christmas spirit,

but i wanted to start my wreath-making month

on a birthday note.

(but not in a jesus's birthday kind of way.)

 

once upon a time i was in a craft club

and one of the girls made this adorable wreath

that she planned to hang on her daughters' doors on their birthday.

i thought that was such a cute idea and i wanted to do it for brette.

i'm only six months ahead of schedule.

self high five.

 

i bought a ton of multi-colored ribbon bows (from the dollar store)

and a foam wreath. (from hobby lobby)

and i already had a glue gun.

 

i started placing the ribbons around to see where i wanted them

and started gluing.

that's really all there is to it.

glue the ribbons to the wreath and make it festive.
it only took me about 20 minutes.

 

 

 

 i'm all set for june door decorations.

 

 

thank (god we're home) sgiving

i'm sitting in bed surrounded by luggage

that has yet to be unpacked.

i haven't set out the first christmas decoration

or bought one gift.

its cyber monday and i don't even feel like

taking advantage of the deals.

i'm just so happy to finally be home and

back in my own bed that all i want to do

is lay here.

 

we traveled to illinois to visit ronnie's

family for thanksgiving.

it was a seven hour drive,

but we left in the evening so

baby boops slept through the whole thing.

unfortunately, that's where the easy part stopped.

we couldn't find a good way for her to nap

so after four days of lacking sleep,

she was one fussy baby.

we missed her swing and our quiet house.

instead she spent lots of time in my arms.

 

but it was nice to get back to the farm

and see all the family.

plus it was the first time ronnie's grandma got to see brette

and ronnie's mom hadn't seen her since she was born.

ronnie's sister and her family made their first trip to illinois too.

they soaked up four full days with brette

and we logged a lot of family time.

(a painting of the farm)

 

 

there is so much to be thankful for,

but right now

i'm just really thankful to be home and

in my own bed.

 

now someone come unpack my clothes and decorate my house.

thanks.


(this picture is a perfect representation of brette's mood.)

 

"what to do" wednesdays

are you getting ready for the big turkey day tomorrow?

you will need expandable pants and plastic containers for

an easy escape with leftovers.

you. are. welcome.

last year i shared

a free thanksgiving printable

and what to do with thanksgiving leftovers.

the year before i was giving out

my appetizer ideas for all the holiday parties.

veggie squares

pizza dip

bacon-wrapped jalapenos

chicken spinach pizza bites

this year i thought i might try to

find some cool and easy wreaths to make.

maybe start wreath wednesdays.

get ready crafters,

it's bout to get all crazy up in here.

so for now,

on this very first wreath wednesday,

i'm going to share the three/four wreaths i've already made.

(or tried to make)

yarn wreath.

feather wreath.

acorn... pinecone wreath.

 

i'll have a new idea next week.
happy thanksgiving eve!

brette's christmas list

the biggest shopping day of the year is coming up
and i'm trying to get amped.

christmas for a 6 month old is stupid,

even though i'm super excited for it.

she is never going to remember the experience

or the presents,

so part of me (the cheap part) wants to skip

the presents portion of the program.

wah wah. just call me the grinch.

 

i just want to see her in her pretty christmas dress,

sing her all the christmas carols i know,

and watch her stare at all the lights on her first christmas tree.

 

but i know i won't - - i can't - - not get her anything.

as a way for me to reel it in,

i'm trying to go by the rule:

"something you want, something you need, something to wear & something to read"

 

here is what i'm thinking for her first christmas.

now i just have to pick my favorite four.

 

1. i want to get her a christmas ornament.

its a tradition in my family - - we always always always get a new ornament for our tree.

i think b should have a collection started too.

plus its nice to have family traditions.

this one has a pram - which i love.

(1-800-flowers - $24.99)

 

 

glitter booties

(pottery barn - $8.00)

 

a very good year - 2013
(the land of nod - $7.95)

of course i might just take her hand impression. who knows...

 

2. i think she needs new learning items.

i can't decide if that's going to be flashcards or new sensory toys.

i heard the best time to start flashcards is around 3 months.

whhaaaat?

i guess since this is because they can only sit around and watch you,

so you have a captive audience.

i feel stupid even bringing this up at 6 months, let alone 3,

but whatever, its not going to hurt her and

maybe it will help b become a super reader.

eric carle flash cards - set of 26

(land of nod - $14.95)

 

 

infantino big top discovery cube

(toys r us - $10.39) 

lamaze mirror crawl toy
(barnes & noble - $13.59)
 

3. something to wear? that's easy.  i want to get her some xmas jammies.

right now, these are my top picks.

(hanna anderson - $28.00)

(hatley's - $35.00)

 

(carter's - $11.00)

 

4. and finally, something to read.

a new christmas book.
i was a little unsure which book should be her first
christmas book and then i stumbled on this:
a whole list of wonderful ideas.

 so now i'm still unsure which one to get her,
but at least i have some amazing ideas to choose from.
 

 

 do you think its bad to add one more gift?  maybe something snuggly?

i can pass this off as a necessity because something is totally needed for her stocking, right?

right.

i knew you'd agree.

claire the cow
blabla - $44
 

 

 

patsy the duck

ragtales - $23

 

 

any family members reading this blog and thinking about picking up brette a little somethin' somethin' for the holidays? she is requesting books.  our at home library is lacking and mom is getting tired of the same 10 stories.  think classics. (corduroy, the hungry hungry caterpillar, goodnight moon, the giving tree)  we have none.

bumbo time

brette has tried some new

things over the last couple weeks.

water and a grape.

we started giving her water daily on her 5 month birthday.

its going okay.

not a lot is actually getting swallowed

because instead of using a bottle,

we're trying it out of a cup.

i thought we'd learn something new,

but its slow going.

i read to start with the cup first since

its the hardest.

i figure once she masters this

and is able to drink on her own,

i'll give her a sippy cup so she can do it herself

and i won't have to worry about spills.

 

***disclaimer***

the "cup" we use it actually a shot glass.

please don't call dfs.

i wanted something really shallow

so i wouldn't have to tip it back very far

and this is all i had.

 

any suggestions on baby's first cup,

because obviously,

this just looks bad.

 

 

 

 

and ronnie decided that he should

hold grapes to her mouth so she can

try to suck on them.

she loved it.

 

 

she's growing up right before our eyes.

 

 

 



holiday shopping

thanksgiving is this week

which means christmas

is just around the corner.

 

decorating.

lights.

trees.

cookies.

 

and

shopping.

blah.

 

i'm already dreading the shopping i have to do.

i've always hated it and

now i feel like i'm also working around naptimes and

our nursing schedule.

not to mention its only 20 degrees here.

not fun.

 

but i did impress myself and order

our christmas cards last week.

holy hell.

a new record.

 

some shopping questions...

 

does anyone have a good suggestion on where to get

amazing boyfriend jeans? 

 

a babies first christmas ornament?

 

great christmas book?

of course there are the well known ones
- the night before christmas or the polar express -

but is there something perfect for a little one?
maybe more age appropriate for brette?

 

suggestions welcome.

 

 

sorry for the early christmas worries.